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WILLIAM H; fLiPPINco-TT, 'OF' PITTSBURG," PENNSYLVANIA.

LettersPatent No,l 77,823, dated May: 12, 1868.

@tts tlgchnle attratta in'tlgtt Entert @that mit mating am nf ila time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY GONCERN:.

Be it'known that I, WILLIAM HrLiPPINC- OTL of Pittsburg, in the county.of Allegheny, and State of-Penn- Sylvania, have invented a. newandusefullmprovement in Process of Manufacturing Billiard-Balls; and Ido hereby declare that the followingv isa full, clear, audexactdescription thereof, which will enablc those skilled thlat to use thesame, reference Ibeing had to the accompanying drawing, formingpart ofthisspecification,y 1n w 1c Figure l represents asection ofabilliard-ballmnde according to my invention', and` Figure 2 is a viewoi' a completed bell. i

This invention relates to the manufacture of balls used in playingbilliards,bagatlle,.ond othergames where globular balls are employed. li

.And the invention consists in forming such balls of vulcanized Indiarubber, in the manner undby the process hereinafter described, whereby Iamenabled to furnish a ball for the above purposes, .equalx or'superiorin all essential particulars to those made of real ivory, and at'greatlyreduced cost.l l

i I am awnrethat many efforts have been made, heretofore, to make theseballsV from vulcanized rubber, as well as from other materials andcompositions, but I am not ,aware that any article of the kind hasbeenproduced, hitherto, which has answeredthe purpose intended. t.

By the ordinary or single process,'rubber cannot bcvulcanized in a masssuiiicien'tly large for the purpose, and secure the requisite qualities,that i s, elasticty and uniform .density throughout; l 4

By my process a ball is `produced possessing the weightrhardncss,elasticityrand durability of the best ivory balls. 4

,In carrying out my invcntiomrfI employ a. variety of moulds, withsuitable vulcaniaing-apparutus, and. I commence by first vulcanizing a-central coreor nucleus, Awhich core is enclosed in another mould oflarger size, containingrubber suilicientto surround the' core, whichmould, with its contents.' is subjected to the same vulcanizing processas the rst. i

4Any numberof coatings or layers may be added inthis manner, untilthe-ball attains the required sine, the vulcaniizing operation beingperformed for each layer, and' a mould of increased -diameter beingemployed for each operation. v i l The lialL'When-thus'formed, tnrnedandpolishedin the ordinary manner.

The vulcanizing process isthe same, lor similar Vto that pursued bydentists in vulcaniaing rubber in their professiomth'e requisite heatbeing obtained from steam or water confined in 'tbovulcaniz'eiy andraised to a temperature of about .3209. Y

It will thus be seen that the' ball-s .formed of di'erentor successivelayers of rubber-,each 'layer being vulcanized as it is added to themass.

The heat to which the ball -is subjected at each operation, fuses andcombinesftlie joining-surfuce's, so that thehnll, when completed,` isahomogeneous mass fromv centre to surface, all marks lby which thediierent layers could be distinguished being nearly obliterated.

vA ball thus formed possesses all the properties required-ofbilliardballswith equal or greater elasticityr vthan ivory, of uniformdensity, and with all the necessary hardness and tenacity, besidesbeinguna'ected by moisture or changes of temperature.- v

Other substances than rubber maybe used as Va. core, or be surroundedwith one or more 'layers of vulcanite, by the processdescribed, but -Iconsider the pure 'vulcanite' ballthe best.

Y Any desired color may be obtained, from white to black, by bleachingor coloring the Vrubber' beforevulcanization, such'color being xed anduniform througbout.

Having thus described my invention, I- claim as new, 'and dcsireo secure,by Letters Patent- Forming billiardballs, and other ballsofasimilarnature, or for similar purposes, of successive'luyers of rubber, eachlayer being vulcanized-.as -it isadded, substantially ashereindescribedr The above 'speciication o fvmy invention signed byme, this11th doy, of December,- 1867(` Y 'Witnesses l. WM.4 F. McNAMAnA,A

ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

